Trichosurus caninus or the Bobuck Black Possum

The Bobuck is also known as the Bobuck Black Possum or the Mountain Possum. As one of its names suggests, it is typically found only in mountain country of eastern Australia. The Bobuck Black Possum has adapted to endure the extreme cold of winter in the Great Dividing Range above the snow line.

Its short ears, dark, almost black coat and large body size with "stumpy build", are adaptations wrought by Natural Selection that help to minimize loss of body heat. Evolution has thus produced an animal that is well able to cope with the harsh conditions of its snow-clad mountain home. Like all possums, the Bobuck Black Possum is a marsupial.

Bobuck Black Possum

Pseudocheirus peregrinus or the Ringtail Possum

Many Australian tree dwellers rely on natural hollows in trees for shelter. These are sturdy and snug, but they are also in short supply. This is why some animals have decided to build their own shelter. The ringtail possum builds a nest (called a 'drey') using sticks and leaves. The ringtail possum sleeps in this drey during the day, and comes out at night forage for leaves, flowers and fruit. Female ringtails tend to have twins, which they will look after until the young are about six months old. Ringtail Possum families will often live together in their drey, and the pair bond (the mum and dad) can last for several years.

The tail with its distinctive white tip gives the Ringtail Possum their common name. This prehensile tail is very useful to the animal, acting as a fifth limb while the possum is clambering over small branches, and allowing the animal to carry nesting material back to its drey. Ringtails are known to many gardeners on the east coast of Australia as a cunning thief of rose flowers! The Ringtail Possum is quite happy to share space with humans, but the same can't always be said for the people. While not nearly as noisy as the brushtail possum, ringtails can often be heard making a soft, high-pitched call.

Did you know...

Tree hollows are in short supply in the wild, so some animals (like the ringtail possums on display) will build their own shelter called a drey. They sleep during the day, and come out at night forage for leaves, flowers and fruit.

The prehensile tail is very useful to the animal, acting as a fifth limb while the possum is clambering over small branches, and allowing the animal to carry nesting material back to its drey.

Female ringtails tend to have twins, which they will look after until the young are about six months old. Ringtail families will often live together in their drey, and the pair bond (the mum and dad) can last for several years.

Where Ringtail Possums can be found in Australia:

Ringtail Possum

Potorous tridactylus or the Long-nosed Potoroo

One of the first mammals recorded form Australia was the long-nosed potoroo. Their species name, 'tridactylus', means 'three toes'. The Long-nosed Potoroo has four toes, but the secondhand third are joined, which fooled the early naturalists that described this animal. They like to live in areas with thick ground cover. They will often dig small holes in the ground in the same fashion that bandicoots do. They do this to search for soil-dwelling insects, worms, fungi, and plant roots and tubers.

The females have four teats but only one young is raised at a time, which will live in the pouch for about four months. They have been known to live up to seven years in the wild and up to twelve years in captivity. Long-nosed potoroos occur frequently in the subfossil record, suggesting that they were much more common in the not-too-distant past. It is not know whether the arrival of humans is to blame for their population decrease, but it is certainly clear that widespread clearing across all of Australia has removed much of their former habitat.

Did you know...

One of the first mammals recorded form Australia was the long-nosed potoroo.

Their species name, 'tridactylus', means 'three toes'. Potoroos actually have four toes, but the second and third are joined, which fooled the early naturalists that described this animal.

Long-nosed potoroos occur frequently in the subfossil record, suggesting that they were much more common in the not-too-distant past.

It is not know whether the arrival of humans is to blame for their population decrease, but it is certainly clear that widespread clearing across all of Australia has removed much of their former habitat.

Where to find the Long-nosed Potoroo in Australia:

Long-nosed Potoroo

Petaurus norfolcensis or the Squirrel Glider

The squirrel glider is very similar in appearance and gliding ability to the sugar glider, though it can get to twice the size. In a lot of areas the squirrel glider is rarer and more restricted than its cousin the sugar glider. Loss of habitat is threatening this animal: it may be endangered in the southern part of its range in northern Victoria. The squirrel glider lives in dry sclerophyll forest and woodland in south-eastern Australia, but not in dense coastal ranges. However, in northern New South Wales and Queensland it occurs in coastal forest and in some wet forest areas bordering on rainforest.

Squirrel gliders enjoy eating insects, especially beetles and caterpillars. They also feed on the gum produced by acacias, the sap of certain eucalypts, nectar and pollen. They nest in bowlshaped hollows in trees, which they line with leaves. Each nest will contain a number of animals, but only one male over the age of two years. There will be one or more females and their offspring, including males under the age of two years. After this age the young males are forced out of the nest to find another hollow to call their own.

Did you know...

The squirrel glider is very similar in appearance and gliding ability to the sugar glider, though it can get to twice the size.

Loss of habitat is threatening this animal: especially in northern Victoria. Luckily, squirrel gliders are still quite common in Brisbane. To keep it that way, it's importantthat dogs and cats are locked up at night.

Each nest contains a number of animals, but only one adult male. There will be one or more females and their offspring. Young males are forced out of the nest when they are two to find another hollow to call their own.

Squirrel Glider

Notomys alexis or the Spinifex Hopping Mice

Hopping mice cope with the harsh conditions of arid Australia by residing in deep humid burrows during the day. Colonies of up to 10 individuals may reside in each burrow system.

The diet of the spinifex hopping mice in the wild is extremely varied; it includes small insects, spiders, scorpions, seeds and vegetation. The average size litter for this little animal is 3 to 4 babies. The whole colony assists in caring for the young. The life expectancy for spinifex hopping mice is 3 to 4 years. In a good season with lots of rain (and therefore lots of food), populations of hopping mice can reach huge numbers.

Did you know...

The spinifex hopping mice is a true mice. Australia has many native rodents, and not just the more well-known marsupials like kangaroos and koalas.

Hopping mice cope with the harsh conditions of arid Australia by residing in deep humid burrows during the day. Colonies of up to 10 individuals may reside in each burrow system.

The diet of the spinifex hopping mice in the wild is extremely varied; it includes small insects, spiders, scorpions, seeds and vegetation.

The average size litter for this little animal is 3 to 4 babies.

The whole colony assists in caring for the young.

In a good season with lots of rain (and lots of food), populations of hopping mice can reach huge numbers.

Spinifex Hopping Mice

Isoodon macrourus or the northern brown bandicoot

The northern brown bandicoot eats insects and spiders but will also eat berries, seeds and some plant material. They live in a number of habitat types but prefer to hang out in areas of low and dense ground cover. Northern brown bandicoots spend their days in hidden nests and sometimes in hollow logs and under grass tussocks. They come out at night to forage, often digging small conical shaped holes in the ground when looking for food.

The males northern brown bandicoot is larger than females and have a gland behind the eat that it uses to mark the ground and vegetation. They breed at different times of the year depending on the region in which they live. They can have up to seven babies at a time (they have eight teats), but usually only have two to four in a litter. Young are weaned after about 60 days.

Although northern brown bandicoots can have a high reproductive rate, they have become extinct in areas of development, farming and grazing.

Did you know...

The northern brown bandicoot eats insects and spiders but will also eat berries, seeds and some plant material.

They come out at night to forage, often digging small conical shaped holes in the ground.

All bandicoots are marsupials (like koalas and kangaroos), not rodents (like rats and mice).

Males are larger than females and have a gland behind the eat that they use to mark the ground and vegetation.

They breed at different times of the year depending on the region in which they live. They can have up to seven

Brown Bandicoot

Dasyurus maculatus or the Spotted-tailed Quoll

The tiger or spotted-tailed quoll is the second largest of the world's surviving carnivorous marsupials (the largest is the Tasmanian devil). Male tiger quolls can measure up to 130 cm long and 4 kg in weight. Females are significantly smaller than males. The tiger quoll is found on the east coast of mainland Australia, but is rare. They can be found in northern Queensland, and from southern Queensland to Tasmania. The tiger quoll is now threatened throughout its mainland range.

The tiger or spotted-tailed quoll is solitary and nocturnal. They are capable hunters, killing their prey with their powerful jaws. Prey consumed includes rats, gliding possums, small or injured wallabies, reptiles and insects. Breeding occurs in early winter with females giving birth to up to 6 young after a gestation period of 21 days. After about 10 weeks the young are left in grass-lined dens located in burrows or hollow logs leaving the female free to hunt and forage. By the end of November they are weaned (no longer suckling) and become independent of the female.

Did you know...

The spotted-tailed quoll is the second largest of the world's surviving carnivorous marsupials (the largest is the Tasmanian devil). Male tiger quolls can measure up to 130 cm long and 4 kg in weight.

The tiger quoll is found on the east coast of mainland Australia, but is rare. They are also found in Tasmania.

Tiger quolls are capable hunters, killing their prey by biting on or behind the head. Prey taken by these quolls include rats, gliding possums, small or injured wallabies, reptiles and insects.

Breeding occurs in early winter with females giving birth to up to 6 young after a gestation period of 21 days.

spotted-tailed quoll

Dasyurus hallucatus or the Northern Quoll

The northern quoll belongs to the same genus as the spotted-tailed quoll which is found on the east coast of Australia. Wild northern quolls are reputed to be the most aggressive of all the quoll species. Northern quoll can be generally found in habitats with trees, preferring rocky country or open Eucalypt forest close to the coast. These voracious feeders will dine on pretty much anything they can fit in their mouths - mice, dunnarts, lizards, snakes, frogs, road kill, grasshoppers, cockroaches, etc.

The Northern Quoll has only a few years lifespan. Despite being marsupials (pouched mammals), the female Northern Quoll don't have a true pouch. Instead, during the breeding season they develop a fold of skin on their belly that they use to contain their developing young. The average litter size is 6. Although locally common in many parts of their range, the Northern Quoll has suffered a large decline in their distribution. Typical causes for their decline include agriculture, land clearing and altered fire regimes. The introduced and toxic cane toad is also thought to have contributed to a decrease in the population size of these beautiful creatures.

Did you know...

Northern quolls are generally found in habitats with trees, preferring rocky country or open Eucalypt forest close to the coast.

Despite being marsupials (pouched mammals), female quolls don't have a true pouch. Instead, during the breeding season they develop a fold of skin on their belly that will contain their developing young.

These voracious feeders will dine on pretty much anything they can fit in their mouths - mice, dunnarts, lizards, snakes, frogs, road kill, grasshoppers, cockroaches, etc.

Northern quolls have suffered a large decline in their distribution. As well as habitat destruction, the introduced and toxic cane toad is thought to have contributed to their decline.

Range of Northern Quolls throughout Australia:

Northern Quoll

Aepyprymnus rufescens or the Rufous Bettong

The Rufous bettong likes to eat herbs, grasses, roots and tubers during the night. They may also dig up and eat fungi. Like the red kangaroo, they do not need to drink free water, but may do so when it is available and there is a drought. The rufous bettong likes to hang out in areas that are sparsely vegetated but are close to areas with a dense understorey to escape from predators.

The Rufous bettong sleeps in nests that they build and fill with grassy material. However, they frequently change their nests, and may use up to five at a time. Rufous bettongs are not really social, but some males may defend up to two females and will consequently spend a lot of time with them. Breeding occurs all year round, with females giving birth after 22-24 days of gestation. Mothers give birth to one baby, which stays with them for about 23 weeks, sharing the nest and feeding with them.

Did you know...

Rufous bettongs sleep in nests that they build and fill with grassy material.

They frequently change their nests, and may use up to five at a time that are located throughout their home range.

Like the red kangaroo, they do not need to drink free water, getting enough water from the food they eat.

Breeding occurs all year round, with females giving birth after 22-24 days of gestation.

Mothers give birth to one baby, which stays with them for about 23 weeks. It starts off in the pouch, but eventually will share the nest and feed with its mum.